SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - A new class action lawsuit says parents who give their children Gripe Water in order to help with colic might as well be giving them regular water.
None of the ingredients in Zarbee's Gripe Water have been shown to help colic in newborns, says a March 14 class action filed in San Francisco federal court by lawyers at Bursor & Fisher. At issue is the claim Gripe Water "helps ease occasional gas & stomach discomfort" associated with colic and hiccups.
"However, Defendant's product does not provide effective relief for any symptoms," the suit says. "This is not surprising, as the product's main ingredients are water and organic agave syrup.
"The product is nothing more than sweetened, flavored water with trace amounts of the product's touted ingredients."
The lawsuit cites a study in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research that found Gripe Water ineffective for treating colic. The suit makes claims under the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, the Unfair Competition Law and the False Advertising Law.